While a delegation of Red Wings dined last night with Dominik Hasek to try to convince the goaltender to return for one more season, it appears as if the Stanley Cup champions will be going for a repeat without Chris Chelios.

Sources report that the 40-year-old defenseman is likely to become an unrestricted free agent in the aftermath of a serious breakdown in negotiations between his camp and Detroit management. And if the Norris runner-up does get to July 1, his first choice is to sign with the Rangers – who are extremely interested in fulfilling his wish.

The question, of course, is whether Glen Sather will be willing to give Chelios the two year, $13 million contract that he is currently seeking. Chelios, who led the playoffs with a plus-15 despite having played much of the last two rounds with a knee injury that required injections, is using the $15M Scott Stevens will receive over the next two years as his point of reference. It’s believed that the Red Wings have offered Chelios a one-year deal at approximately the same $5.5M he earned this season.

The Rangers, who will come blasting out of the gate at one second after midnight next Monday in an attempt to sign Bobby Holik – who may receive a take-it-or-leave-it Dallas offer for as much as $50M over five years – would love to have Chelios and all that he brings to a lineup and locker room. But there is some concern over both the numbers that it may take to sign the defenseman as well as the impact such a contract might have in negotiations with Mark Messier.